Malignant mesothelioma (MM) in women: findings of the Mesothelioma Register of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region

During the period 2000-2003, the Mesothelioma Register of the Friuli Venezia Giulia identified 248 cases of MM, 44 of which (18%) were female. In 36 cases the diagnosis was "certain" and in 8 "probable" or "possible". Mean age at diagnosis was 72.8 years (SD = 12.7), an...

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Published inGiornale italiano di medicina del lavoro ed ergonomia Vol. 29; no. 3 Suppl; p. 334
Main Authors De Zotti, R, Damian, A, Muran, A
Format Journal Article
LanguageItalian
Published Italy 01.07.2007
Subjects
Aged
Female
Humans
Male
Mesothelioma - epidemiology
Mesothelioma - etiology
Pleural Neoplasms - epidemiology
Pleural Neoplasms - etiology
Sex Factors
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Summary:During the period 2000-2003, the Mesothelioma Register of the Friuli Venezia Giulia identified 248 cases of MM, 44 of which (18%) were female. In 36 cases the diagnosis was "certain" and in 8 "probable" or "possible". Mean age at diagnosis was 72.8 years (SD = 12.7), and the site of the disease was the pleura in 93% of cases. Information about previous exposure to asbestos was collected in accordance with the guidelines of the National Mesothelioma Register Occupational exposure to asbestos was documented in only 8 cases and family exposure in 6 others. In the remaining cases the source of exposure was "unknown" because of insufficient data, or there were no data at all. The study highlights the role played by extra-occupational exposure to asbestos among women and the need for careful investigation into previous asbestos exposure in all females with MM. In order to improve our knowledge of the part played by factors other than occupational exposure to asbestos in triggering the disease, it is crucial to reduce he number of cases with no information or "unknown" exposure to this dangerous substance.
ISSN:1592-7830